Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/445

 the face of the ideal being presented by my magic mirror, when I wiped it after having breathed upon it. As I expressed the thought that I had met her before, she quietly answered that it was very unlikely, as she had just arrived at W for the first time in her life. She accompanied her answer with so charming a glance that I was electrified. We conversed together for some time; I introduced into our chat a certain boldness of expression which did not seem to displease her, and she, on her part, pursued it with charming animation.—When the champagne appeared, I attempted to fill her glass: but the crystal, accidently [sic] struck, yielded a mournful sound, I saw the face of my pretty companion grow mortally pale, and it seemed to me that I had just heard the shrill voice of the mysterious old woman of the deserted house. In the course of the evening, I watched my opportunity to rejoin count P. I learned from him that the beautiful person who had so exclusively occupied me was the countess Edwine de S, and that the sister of this young girl's mother was confined as insane in the deserted house. That same day the mother and daughter had visited the unfortunate recluse.—The old servant had been suddenly attacked with a serious indisposition, and these ladies had admitted Dr. K into their sad secret, expecting from his great skill more decided efforts for the almost hopeless cure of the poor sick woman. At this moment Dr. K, who was passing very near us, and whom I had consulted with as to the steps to be taken to drive away my hallucinations, stopped to inquire after my health, and I obtained from him, by my entreaties, some information concerning the history of the captive woman of the deserted house.

Angelika, countess of Z, the doctor told us, was at thirty in all the brilliancy of her charms, when count S, younger than she by several years, became deeply in love with her, and made every exertion to become acqainted [sic] with her family. But when about to proceed on a visit to the castle of Z, to demand the hand of the object of his burning passion in marriage, he met Gabrielle, Angelika's sister. This incident deranged all his feelings and suddenly changed all his projects. Angelika, from that moment, lost all the charms which she had at first appeared to possess in his eyes, and Gabrielle became endowed with all that her sister had formerly attained. It was Gabrielle who was asked in marriage, instead of Angelika. The poor forsaken sister did not complain; her pride made her look upon her position very complacently.